The Book of Gates
The Book of Gates is an Ancient Egyptian cosmological treatise describing the architecture and
inhabitants of the Tuat, the underworld which the boat of the Sun God, Ra, traverses during the night
hours. This is the second volume of the three volume Budge series which deals with the books of the
Underworld, the Egyptian Heaven and Hell . It also includes a short summary of the Book of Am-Tuat,
the longer version of which comprises the first volu
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The Book of Gates
with the Short Form of the Book Am-Tuat
London; Kegan, Paul, Trench, Trübner & Co.
[1905]
Scanned at Sacred-texts.com, May 2003. J.B. Hare, Redactor. This text is in the public domain. These files may be used for any
non-commercial purpose, provided this notice of attribution is left intact.
Next: Note
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Vol. I Vol. II Vol. III
The Book of Gates
by E. A. Wallis Budge
[1905]
(original title) The short form of the Book of am-tuat and the Book of Gates
The Book of Gates is an Ancient Egyptian cosmological treatise describing the architecture and
inhabitants of the Tuat, the underworld which the boat of the Sun God, Ra, traverses during the night
hours. This is the second volume of the three volume Budge series which deals with the books of the
Underworld, the Egyptian Heaven and Hell . It also includes a short summary of the Book of Am-Tuat,
the longer version of which comprises the first volume.
Title Page
Note
Contents
The Short Form of the Book of Am-Tuat
The First Hour
The Second Hour
The Third Hour
The Fourth Hour
The Fifth Hour
The Sixth Hour
The Seventh Hour
The Eighth Hour
The Ninth Hour
The Tenth Hour
The Eleventh Hour
The Twelfth Hour
The Book of Gates
Chapter I. The Alabaster Sarcophagus of Seti I.
Chapter II. The Ante-Chamber of the Tuat
Chapter III. The Gate Of Saa-Set: The Second Division of the Tuat.
Chapter IV. The Gate Of Aqebi. The Third Division of the Tuat.
Chapter V. The Gate Of Tchetbi. The Fourth Division of the Tuat
Chapter VI. The Gate Of Teka-Hra. The Fifth Division of the Tuat
Chapter VII. The Judgment Hall of Osiris. The Sixth Division of the Tuat.
Chapter VIII. The Gate Of Set-em-maat-f. The Sixth Division Of The Tuat--continued.
Chapter IX. The Gate Of Akha-En-Maat. The Seventh Division of the Tuat.
Chapter X. The Gate of Set-hra. The Eighth Division of the Tuat.
Chapter XI. The Gate Of Ab-ta. The Ninth Division of the Tuat.
Chapter XII. The Gate of Sethu. The Tenth Division of the Tuat.
Chapter XIII. The Gate Of Am-netu-f. The Eleventh Division of the Tuat.
Chapter XIV. The Gate of Sebi and Reri. The Twelfth Division of the Tuat
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NOTE
THIS volume is the second of a series of three volumes which treat of the Egyptian Heaven and Hell. It
contains the complete hieroglyphic text of the Summary, or short form of the BOOK AM-TUAT, and the
complete hieroglyphic text of the BOOK OF GATES, with translations and reproductions of all the
illustrations. A series of Chapters dealing with the origin and contents of Books of the Other World, with
prefatory remarks, and a full index to the whole work, will be found in the third volume.
Next: Contents
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p. 1
THE SHORT FORM
OF THE
BOOK OF AM-TUAT
THE SUMMARY OF THE BOOK OF WHAT IS IN THE UNDERWORLD.
THE BEGINNING OF THE HORN OF AMENTET, [WHICH IS] THE UTTERMOST POINT OF THE
DEEPEST DARKNESS.
THE FIRST HOUR.
THIS god entereth into the earth through the Hall of the horizon of Amentet. There are one hundred and
twenty ATRU to journey over in this Hall before a man arriveth at the gods of the Tuat.
The name of the first Field of the Tuat is NET-RA. He (i.e., Ra) allotteth fields to the gods who are in
[his] following, and he beginneth to send forth words to and to work out the plans of the divine beings of
the Tuat in respect of this Field.
Whosoever shall have these made (i.e., copied)
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according to the similitude which is in Ament of the Tuat, [and] whosoever shall have knowledge of
these similitudes, [which are] the copies of this great god himself, they shall act as magical protectors for
him upon earth regularly and unfailingly, and they shall act as magical protectors for him in the Great
Tuat.
USHEMET-HATU-KHEFTI-RA is the name of the [first] hour of the night which guideth this great god
through this Hall.
Next: The Second Hour
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p. 4
THE SECOND HOUR.
This great god afterwards taketh up his position in UR-NEST, which is three hundred and nine ATRU in
length, and one hundred and twenty ATRU in width.
The name of the gods who are in this Field is, BAIU-TUATI. Whosoever knoweth their names shall have
his existence with them, and unto him shall this great god allot fields in the place wherein they are in the
FIELD OF URNES. He shall stand up with the Gods who Stand Up (AHAU), he shall travel on in the
following
p. 5
of this great god, he shall enter into the earth, he shall force a way through the Tuat, he shall cleave a
passage through the tresses of the gods with flowing hair (HENKSU), he shall travel on by the EATER
OF THE ASS (AM-AA) after the emptying of the lands, he shall eat bread-cakes in the Boat of the Earth,
and there shall be given unto him the fore-part of TATUBA.
Whosoever shall have made in writing (or, in drawing) similitudes of the BAIU-TUATI (i.e., the Souls of
the Tuat) in the forms in which they are in Ament of the Tuat-now the beginning of such representations
should be from Amentet,--and whosoever shall make offerings unto them upon earth in their names,
[these things I say] shall act as magical protectors to that person upon earth, regularly and unfailingly.
And whosoever shall know the words which the gods of the Tuat speak to this god, and the words which
are said by him to them when he is approaching the gods of the Tuat, [these words I say] shall act as
magical protectors to him that knoweth them upon earth, regularly and unfailingly.
SHESAT-MAKET-NEB-S is the name of the hour of the night which guideth this great god through this
Field.
Next: The Third Hour
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p. 8
THE THIRD HOUR.
This great god afterwards taketh up his position in the Fields of the PERU-gods (i.e., the Fighters), and
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this great god paddleth his way over the STREAM OF OSIRIS (NET-ASAR) in sailing up this Field,
which is three hundred and nine ATRU long, and one hundred and twenty ATRU wide. This great god
uttereth words to those who are in the following of Osiris to this City, and he allotteth unto them estates
which are situated in this Field.
BAIU-SHETAIU (i.e., Hidden Souls) is the name of the gods who are in this Field, and whosoever
knoweth their names upon earth shall be able to approach to the place where Osiris is, and there shall be
given unto him water for his Field.
NET-NEB-UA-KHEPER-AUATU is the name of this Field. Whosoever shall know these hidden
similitudes of the Hidden Souls in the correct forms wherein they are depicted in Ament of the
Tuat--now the beginning of such representations should be from Amentet--[these figures I say] shall act
as magical protectors to that man upon earth, [and] in Neter-khert, regularly and unfailingly.
Whosoever knoweth these, when he is making his journey past them shall escape from their roarings,
and he shall not fall down into their furnaces (or, pits).
Whosoever knoweth this, when 'he is keeping ward over [his] seat (or, place), his bread-cake shall be
with Ra; and whosoever knoweth this, being soul [and] spirit, shall have the mastery over his legs, and
shall never enter into the place of destruction, but he shall
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come forth with his attributes (or, forms), and shall snuff the air for his hour.
THENTENT-BAIU is the name of the hour of the night which guideth this great god through this Field.
Next: The Fourth Hour
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p. 13
THE FOURTH HOUR.
The majesty of this great god, having been towed along, afterwards taketh up his position in the secret
Circle of AMENTET, and he performeth the affairs of the gods of the Tuat who are therein by means of
his voice, but he seeth them not.
ANKH-KHEPERU is the name of the gate of this Circle.
AMENT-SETHAU is the name of this Circle.
Whosoever knoweth this representation of the hidden roads of RE-STATET, and the holy paths of the
AMMEHET, and the secret doors which are in the Land Of SEKER, the god who is upon his sand, shall
be in the condition of him that eateth the bread-cakes which are [made] for the mouth of the LIVING
gods in the Temple of Tem.
Whosoever knoweth this shall be in the condition of him that is maat on the ways, and he shall journey
p. 14
over the roads of RE-SETHAU, and he shall see the representations of the AMMEHET.
URT-EM-SEKHEMU-SET is the name of the hour of the night which guideth this great god.
Next: The Fifth Hour
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p. 16
THE FIFTH HOUR.
This great god is towed along over the ways of Maat of the Tuat through the upper half of this secret
Circle of the god SEKER, who is upon his sand, and he neither looketh upon nor gazeth at the secret
figure of the earth which containeth the flesh of this god. The gods who are in [the train of] this god hear
the words of Ra, who crieth unto them from where this god is.
AHA-NETERU is the name of the door [of this City].
AMENT is the name of the Circle of this god, [and in it are] the secret path of Amentet, and the doors of
the hidden palace, and the holy place of the LAND OF SEKER [with his] flesh, and [his] members, [and
his] body, in the divine form which they had at first.
BAIU-AMU-TUAT is the name of the gods who are in [this] Circle. Their forms (aru) who are in their
hour,
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and their secret shapes (kheperu ) neither know, nor look upon, nor see this image (or, similitude) of
SEKER (or, the hawk) himself.
Whosoever shall make these representations according to the image which is in writing in the hidden
places of the Tuat, at the south of the Hidden Palace, and whosoever shall know them shall be at peace,
and his soul shall unite itself to the offerings of SEKER, and the goddess KHEMIT shall not hack his
body in pieces, and he shall go on his way towards her in peace. Whosoever shall make offerings to
these gods upon earth--[these offerings, I say, shall act as magical protectors to that man upon earth, and
in NETER-KHERT, regularly and unfailingly].
SEM-HER-AB-UAA-S is the name of the hour of the night which guideth this great god through this
Field.
Next: The Sixth Hour
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p. 20
THE SIXTH HOUR.
The majesty of this great god taketh up his position in the stream of NEBT-MU-TUATIU (i.e., the Lord
of the waters of the gods of the Tuat), and he sendeth forth words to the gods who are therein, and he
commandeth that they have the mastery over their divine offerings in this City. He maketh his way
through this Field, being provided with his Boat, and he setteth apart by his words the estates which are
[to produce] their offerings in this City, and he giveth to them water for their lakes, and he travelleth
through the Tuat every day.
SEPT-METU is the name of the door of this City.
p. 21
The secret roads of Amentet, and the manner wherein this great god is being rowed along over the water
therein in his boat to perform the plans (or, affairs) of the gods of the Tuat, the gathering together [of
them] by their names, the manifestations of their shapes (or, forms), and [their] secret hours, such are the
things of which the secret representation of the Tuat is not known to men and women.
Whosoever shall make [a copy of] this image in writing, according to the representation of the same
which is in the hidden things of the Tuat, at the south of the Hidden Palace, and whosoever shall know
them shall be in the condition of one who awardeth offerings in abundance in the Tuat, and he shall be
united to the offerings of the gods who are in the following of Osiris, and his Parents (or, kinsfolk) shall
make the offerings which are obligatory on the earth.
The majesty of this great god sendeth forth words, and he giveth divine offerings to [the gods of] the
Tuat, and he standeth up by them; and they see him, and they have dominion over their Fields and over
the gifts made to them, and they effect their transformations by reason of the words which this great god
hath spoken unto them.
METCHET-NEBT-TUATIU is the name of this Field, which is the road of the Boat of Ra.
MESPERIT-AR-MAAT is the name of the hour of the night which guideth this great god through this
country.
Next: The Seventh Hour
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p. 25
THE SEVENTH HOUR.
The majesty of this great god taketh up his position in the secret place of Osiris, and the majesty of this
great god sendeth forth words into this to the gods who dwell therein. This god maketh to himself other
forms for this hidden place in order to drive out of his path the serpent fiend APEP by means of the
words of power of Isis, and the words of power of SEMSU (?).
RUTI-ASAR is the name of the gate of this City through which this god passeth.
TEPHET-SHETA is the name of this City.
p. 26
This great god maketh his way over the road of Ament in the holy boat, and he passeth in it over this
road which is without water, without being towed along. He maketh his way by means of the words of
power of Isis, and by means of the words of power of SEMSU (?), and the utterances of this great god
himself [act as] magical protectors, and perform the slaughters of Apep in the Tuat, in this Circle, in his
windings in the sky.
Whosoever shall make [a copy of] these [pictures] according to the similitudes which are in writing at the
northern side of the Hidden Palace in the Tuat, they shall act as magical protectors for him that maketh
them in heaven and in earth. And whosoever knoweth them shall be a soul of souls with Ra. And
whosoever shall make (i.e., recite) the words of power of Isis and the words of power of SEMSU, shall
make to be driven back the Apep of Ra in Amentet. Whosoever shall do [this] in the Hidden Palace of
the Tuat, and whosoever shall do [this] upon earth, [the result is] the same. Whosoever knoweth this
shall be in the Boat of Ra, both in heaven and upon earth; but he that hath no knowledge of this
representation shall not know how to drive back NEHA-HRA (i.e., Stinking-Face).
Now the ridge of earth of NEHA-HRA in the Tuat is four hundred and fifty cubits in length, and he
filleth it with the undulations of his body. The regions which belong to him are made (i.e., kept) for him,
and the great god doth not make his way over him when he
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maketh him to turn aside out of the way for him, from the secret place of Osiris, when this god maketh
his way through this city in the form of the serpent MEHEN.
Whosoever shall know this upon earth, the serpent NEHA-HRA shall not drink his water, and the soul of
him that knoweth it shall not be evilly entreated by the gods who are in this Circle; and whosoever
knoweth it the crocodile AB-SHAU shall not devour his soul.
KHESEF-HAI-HESEQ-NEHA-HRA is the name of the hour of the night which guideth this great god
through this Circle.
Next: The Eighth Hour
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p. 30
THE EIGHTH HOUR.
When the majesty of this great god hath taken up his position in the secret Circles of those who are in
their sand, he sendeth forth words to them from out of his Boat, and the gods tow along him that is in the
holy embrace (?) of the serpent MEHEN.
AHA-AN-URT-F is the name of the gate of this City.
TEBAT-NETERU-SET is the name of this City.
As for the secret Circle of AMENTET, this great god maketh his way over it in his Boat, by means of the
towing of the gods who are in the Tuat.
Whosoever shall make [a copy of] these things according to the similitude which is in writing on the
north [wall] of the Hidden Palace in the Tuat, and whosoever shall know them by their names, shall be in
the condition of one who is fully provided with swathings on the earth, and he shall never be repulsed at
the secret gates, and he shall have abundant offerings in the great funeral hall regularly and unfailingly
for millions of years.
NEBT-USHA is the name of the hour of the night which guideth this great god.
Next: The Ninth Hour
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p. 32
THE NINTH HOUR.
When the majesty of this great god hath taken up his position in this Circle, he sendeth forth words from
his Boat to the gods who dwell therein, and the sailors join the, Boat of this great god in this City.
SAA-KEB is the name of the gate of this City through which this great god passeth to take up his position
on the stream which is in this City.
BES-ARU is the name of this City, which is the secret Circle of AMENTET, wherein take up their
positions in the Tuat this great god and his sailors.
Whosoever maketh [a copy of] these things in their names according to the similitudes which are in
writing on the east [wall] of the Hidden Palace of the Tuat, and whosoever knoweth their names upon
earth, and knoweth their habitations in Amentet, shall rest in his habitation in the Tuat, and he shall stand
up among the lords of the provisions of the gods, and his voice shall be maat before the tchatcha beings
on the day of the reckoning of Pharaoh (literally, the thrice great house). And these things shall act as
magical protectors to him that knoweth them upon earth.
MAK-NEB-S is the name of the hour of the night which guideth this great god in this Circle.
Next: The Tenth Hour
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p. 34
THE TENTH HOUR.
The majesty of this great god taketh up his position in this Circle, and he sendeth forth words to the gods
who are in it.
AA-KHEPERU-MES-ARU is the name of the gate of this City through which this great god passeth.
METCH-QA-UTEBU is the name of this City. [This is] the secret Circle of Amentet whereto KHEPERA
joineth himself before Ra, and the gods, and the spirits, and the dead cry out from it over the secret
representations (or, images) Of AKERT.
Whosoever shall make [a copy of] these [representations] according to the figures which are depicted on
the east [wall] of Ament, and whosoever knoweth them by their names shall journey round about in the
Tuat, and shall travel through it, and he shall not be driven back, and he shall flourish with Ra.
TENTENIT-HESQ-KHAKABU is the name of the hour of the night which guideth this great god through
the secret ways of this City.
Next: The Eleventh Hour
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p. 36
THE ELEVENTH HOUR.
The majesty of this great god taketh up his position in this Circle, and he sendeth forth words unto the
gods who are therein.
SEKHEN-TUATIU is the name of the gate of this City through which this great god passeth.
RE-EN-QERERT-APT-KHAT is the name of this City. [This is] the secret Circle of the Tuat into which
this great god passeth on his way, and [he] cometh forth at the eastern mountain of the sky, the eater of
eternity. The form thereof is in the presence of the serpent PETRA, which dwelleth in this City, and they
(i.e., the gods) place themselves in the train of [Ra] when the birth of KHEPER upon earth is about to
take place.
Whosoever shall make [a copy] of these [representations] according to the figures which are depicted on
the east [wall] of the palace of Ament in the hidden [places] of the Tuat, and whosoever knoweth them
shall be in the position of him that divideth his offering, and of him who is a spirit who is suitably
equipped [to travel] both in heaven and upon earth, regularly and unceasingly.
SEBIT-NEB-UAA-KHESEF-SEBIU-EM-PERT-F is the name of the hour of the night which guideth this
great god in this Circle.
Next: The Twelfth Hour
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p. 38
THE TWELFTH HOUR.
The majesty of this great god taketh up his position in this Circle at the limits of the thick darkness, and
this great god is born under the form of KHEPERA in this Circle. The gods NU and AMMUI, and HEH
and HEH[UT] are in this Circle at the birth of this great god, when he maketh his appearance from the
Tuat, and taketh up his place in the Matet Boat, and riseth from between the thighs of the goddess Nut.
THENEN-NETERU is the name of the gate of this City.
KHEPER-KEKUI-KHA-MESTI is the name of this City. [This is] the secret Circle of the Tuat, wherein
this great god is born, when he maketh his appearance in NU, and taketh up his place in the body of
NUT.
Whosoever shall make [a copy] of these [representations] according to the figures which are depicted on
the east [wall] of the palace of Ament of the Tuat, they shall be magical protectors to him that knoweth
them upon earth, both in heaven and on earth.
At this point the light beginneth [to come], and it is the end of the thick darkness which Ra travelleth
through in Amentet, and of the secret matters which this great god performed therein. He who hath no
knowledge of the whole (?) or part (?) of the secret
p. 39
representations of the Tuat, shall be condemned to destruction.
Whosoever shall make [a copy] of these [representations] according to this copy of what is in the Ament
of the Tuat, [which] cannot be looked at or seen, and whosoever shall know these secret images shall be
in the condition of the spirit who is equipped [for journeying], and shall come forth [from] and shall
descend into the Tuat, and shall hold converse with the men and women who live [there] regularly and
unfailingly, millions of times.
Next: Chapter I. The Alabaster Sarcophagus of Seti I.
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p. 43
THE BOOK OF GATES
CHAPTER I.
THE ALABASTER SARCOPHAGUS OF SETI I.
THE text of the "Book of Gates," printed in the following pages, is taken from the alabaster sarcophagus
of king Seti I., B.C. 1370, which is preserved in the Museum of Sir John Soane, at 13, Lincoln's Inn
Fields. This sarcophagus is, undoubtedly, one of the chief authorities for the text of that remarkable
book; but before any attempt is made to describe the arrangement of the scenes and the inscriptions
which accompany them, it will be well to recall the principal facts connected with its discovery by
Giovanni Battista Belzoni, who has fortunately placed them on record in his Narrative of the Operations
and recent discoveries within the pyramids, temples, tombs and Excavations in Egypt and Nubia ,
London, 1820, p. 233 ff. In October, 1815, Belzoni began to excavate in the Biban-al-Muluk, i.e., the
Valley of the Tombs of the Kings, on the western bank of the Nile at Thebes, and in the
p. 44
bed of a watercourse he found a spot where the ground bore traces of having been "moved." On the 19th
of the month his workmen made a way through the sand and fragments of stone which had been piled up
there, and entered the first corridor or passage of a magnificent tomb, which he soon discovered to have
been made for one of the great kings of Egypt. A second corridor led him to a square chamber which,
being thirty feet deep, formed a serious obstacle in the way of any unauthorized intruder, and served to
catch any rain-water which might make its way down the corridors from the entrance. Beyond this
chamber are two halls, and from the first of these Belzoni passed through other corridors and rooms until
he entered the vaulted chamber in which stood the sarcophagus. 1 The sarcophagus chamber is situated
at a distance of 320 feet from the entrance to the first corridor, and is 180 feet below the level of the
ground. Belzoni succeeded in bringing the sarcophagus from its chamber into the light of day without
injury, and in due course it arrived in England; the negotiations which he opened with the Trustees of the
British Museum, to whom its purchase was first proposed, fell through, and he subsequently sold it to Sir
John Soane, it is said for the sum of £2000. An examination of the sarcophagus shows that both it and its
cover were hollowed out of monolithic blocks of alabaster,
p. 45
and it is probable, as Mr. Sharpe says, 1 that these were quarried in the mountains near Alabastronpolis,
i.e., the district which was known to the Egyptians by the name of Het-nub, and is situated near the ruins
known in modern times by the name of Tell al-'Amarna. In the Yet-nub quarries large numbers of
inscriptions, written chiefly in the hieratic character, have been found, and from the interesting selection
from these published by Messrs. Blackden and Fraser, we learn that several kings of the Ancient and
Middle Empires carried on works in them, no doubt for the purpose of obtaining alabaster for funeral
purposes. The sarcophagus is 9 ft. 4 in. long, 3 ft. 8 in. wide, in the widest part, and 2 ft. 8 in. high at the
shoulders, and 2 ft. 3 in. at the feet; the cover is 1 ft. 3 in. high. The thickness of the alabaster varies from
21 to 4 inches. The skill of the mason who succeeded in hollowing the blocks without breaking, or even
cracking them, is marvellous, and the remains of holes nearly one inch in diameter suggest that the drill
was as useful to him as the chisel and mallet in hollowing out the blocks. When the sarcophagus and its
cover were finally shaped and polished, they were handed over to an artisan who was skilled in cutting
hieroglyphics and figures of the gods, &c., in stone, and both the insides and outsides were covered by
him
p. 46
with inscriptions and vignettes and mythological scones which illustrated them. Both inscriptions and
scenes were then filled in with a kind of paint made from some preparation of copper, and the vivid
bluish green colour of this paint must have formed a striking contrast to the brilliant whiteness of the
alabaster when fresh from the quarry. At the present time large numbers of characters and figures are
denuded of their colour, and those in which it still remains are much discoloured by London fog and
soot.
The first to attempt to describe the contents of the texts and scenes on the sarcophagus of SETI I. was the
late Samuel Sharpe, who, with the late Joseph Bonomi, published "The Alabaster Sarcophagus of
Oimenepthah I., King of Egypt," London, 1864, 4to; the former was responsible for the letterpress, and
the latter for the plates of scenes and texts. For some reason which it is not easy to understand, Mr.
Sharpe decided that the hieroglyphic characters which formed the prenomen of the king for whom the
sarcophagus was made were to be read "Oimenepthah," a result which he obtained by assigning the
phonetic value of O to the hieroglyphic sign for Osiris . The prenomen is sometimes written
, or , and , and is to be read either SETI-MEN-EN PTAH,
or SETI-MEN-EN-PTAH. Mr. Sharpe did not, apparently, realize that both the signs and
p. 47
were to be read "Set," and he gave to the first the phonetic value of A and to the second the value of O;
he next identified "Aimenepthah" or "Oimenepthah" with the Amenophath of Manetho, and the
Chomaepthah of Eratosthenes, saying, "hence arises the support to our reading his name (i.e., the king's)
Oimenepthah." Passing over Mr. Sharpe's further remarks, which assert that the sarcophagus was made in
the year B.C. 1175 (!), we must consider briefly the arrangement of the texts and scenes upon the insides
and outsides of the sarcophagus and its covers. On the upper outside edge of the sarcophagus runs a
single line of hieroglyphics which contains speeches supposed to be made to the deceased by the four
children of Horus; this line is in two sections, each of which begins at the right hand side of the head,
and ends at the left hand side of the foot. Below this line of hieroglyphics are five large scenes, each of
which is divided into three registers, and these are enclosed between two dotted bands which are
intended to represent the borders of the "Valley of the Other World." On the inside of the sarcophagus
are also five scenes, but there is no line of hieroglyphics running along the upper edge. On the bottom of
the sarcophagus is a finely cut figure of the Goddess Nut, and round and about her are texts selected
from the Theban Recension of the Book of the Dead ; on the inside of the cover is a figure of the goddess
Nut, with arms outstretched. On the outside of the
p. 48
cover, in addition to the texts which record the names and titles of the deceased, are inscribed two large
scenes, each of which is divided into three registers, like those inside and outside the sarcophagus.
The line of text on the upper outside edge reads:--
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I. Speech of MESTHA: "I am Mestha, I am [thy] son, O Osiris, king, lord of the two lands, Men-Maat-Ra,
whose word is maat, son of the Sun, Seti Mer-en-Ptah, whose word is maat, and I have come so that I
may be among those who protect thee. I make to flourish thy house, which shall be doubly established,
by the command of Ptah, by the command of Ra himself."
Speech of ANPU: "I am Anpu, who dwelleth in (or, with) the funeral chest." He saith, "Mother Isis
descendeth . . . . . . . . bandages for me, Osiris, king Men-Maat-Ra, whose word is maat, son of the Sun,
Seti Mer-en-Ptah, whose word is maat, from him that worketh against me."
Speech of TUAMATEF: "I am Tuamatef, I am thy son Horus, I love thee, and I have come to avenge
thee, Osiris, upon him that would work his wickedness
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upon thee, and I will set him under thy feet for ever, Osiris, king, lord of the two lands, Men-Maat-Ra,
son of the Sun, [proceeding] from his body, loving him, lord of crowns (or, risings) Seti Mer-en-Ptah,
whose word is maat, before the Great God."
To be said: "Ra liveth, the Tortoise dieth! Strong are the members of . . . . . Osiris, king Men-Maat-Ra,
whose word is maat, for Qebhsennuf guardeth them. Ra liveth, the Tortoise dieth! In a sound state is he
who is in the sarcophagus, in a sound state is he who is in the sarcophagus, that is to say, the son of the
Sun, Seti Mer-en-Ptah, whose word is maat."
Speech of NUT: Nut, the great one of Seb, saith: "O Osiris, king, lord of the two lands, Men-Maat-Ra,
whose word is maat, who loveth me, I give unto thee purity on the earth, and splendour (or, glory) in the
heavens, and I give unto thee thy head for ever."
II. Speech of NUT, who is over the HENNU BOAT: "This is my son, Osiris, king, Men-Maat-Ra, whose
word is maat. His father Shu loveth him, and his mother Nut loveth him, Osiris, son of Ra, Seti
Mer-en-Ptah, whose word is maat."
Speech of HAPI: "I am Hapi. I have come that I might be among those who protect thee, I bind together
for thee thy head, [and thy members, smiting down for thee thine enemies beneath thee, and I give
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thee] thy head, O Osiris, king, Men-Maat-Ra, whose word is maat, son of Ra, Seti Mer-en-Ptah, whose
word is maat."
Speech Of ANPU, the Governor of the divine house: I am Anpu, the Governor of the divine house. O
Osiris, king, lord of the two lands, Men-Maat-Ra, whose word is maat, son of the Sun, [proceeding] from
his body, the lord of crowns, Seti Mer-en-Ptah, whose word is maat, the Shennu beings go round about
thee, and thy members remain uninjured, O Osiris, king, Men-Maat-RA, whose word is maat for ever."
Speech Of QEBHSENNUF: "I am thy son, I have come that I might be among those who protect thee. I
gather together for thee thy bones, and I piece together for thee thy limbs. I bring unto thee thy heart, and
I set it upon its seat in thy body. I make to flourish (or, germinate) for thee thy house after thee, [O thou
who] liv[est] for ever."
To be said: "Ra liveth, the Tortoise dieth! Let enter the bones of Osiris, king Men-Maat-Ra, whose word
is maat, the son of the Sun, Seti Mer-en-Ptah, whose word is maat, let them enter into their foundations.
Pure is the dead body which is in the earth,
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and pure are the bones of Osiris, king Men-Mast-Ra, whose word is maat, like Ra [for ever!]."
On the bottom of the sarcophagus is a large, full-length figure of the goddess NUT who is depicted in the
form of a woman with her arms ready to embrace the body of the king. Her face and the lower parts of
the body below the waist are in profile, but she has a front chest, front shoulders, and a front eye. Her
feet are represented as if each was a right foot, and each only shows the great toe. One breast is only
shown. The hair of the goddess is long and falls over her back and shoulders; it is held in position over
her forehead by a bandlet. She wears a deep collar or necklace, and a closely-fitting feather-work tunic
which extends from her breast to her ankles; the latter is supported by two shoulder straps, each of which
is fastened with a buckle on the shoulder. She has anklets on her legs, and bracelets on her wrists, and
armlets on her arms. The inscriptions which are cut above the head, and at both sides, and under the feet
of the goddess contain addresses to the king by the great gods of the sky, and extracts from the Book of
the Dead ; they read:--
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INSCRIPTION ON THE BOTTOM OF THE SARCOPHAGUS OF SETI I.
I. The words of Osiris the king, the lord of the two lands, MEN-MAAT-RA, whose word is maat, the son
of Ra (i.e., the Sun), SETI MER-EN-PTAH, whose word is maat, who saith, "O thou goddess NUT,
support thou me, for I am thy son. Destroy thou my defects of immobility, together with those who
produce them."
II. The goddess NUT, who dwelleth in HET-HENNU, saith, "This [is my] son Osiris, the king, the lord of
the two lands, MEN-MAAT-RA, whose word is maat, the son of Ra, [proceeding] from his body, who
loveth him, the lord of crowns, Osiris, SETI MER-EN-PTAH."
III. The god SEB saith, "This [is my] son MEN-MAAT-RA, who loveth me. I have given unto him purity
upon earth, and glory in heaven, him the Osiris, king, the lord of the two lands, MEN-MAAT-RA,
"whose word is maat, the son of Ra, the lover of Nut, that is to say, SETI MER-EN-PTAH, whose word is
maat, before the lords of the Tuat."
IV. Words which are to be said:--"O Osiris, king, lord of the two lands, MEN-MAAT-RA, whose word is
maat, the son of Ra, [proceeding] from his body, that is to say, SETI MER-EN-PTAH, whose word is
maat. Thy mother NUT putteth forth [her] two hands and arms over thee, Osiris, king, lord of the two
lands, MEN-MAAT-RA, whose word is maat, son of Ra,
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whom he loveth, lord of diadems, SETI MER-EN-PTAH, whose word is maat. Thy mother NUT hath
added the magical powers which are thine, and thou art in her arms, and thou shalt never die. Lifted up
and driven away are the calamities which were to thee, and they shall never [more] come to thee, and
shall never draw nigh unto thee, Osiris, king, the lord of the two lands, MEN-MAAT-RA, whose word is
maat. Horus hath taken up his stand behind thee, Osiris, son of Ra, lord of diadems, SETI
MER-EN-PTAH, whose word is maat, for thy mother NUT hath come unto thee; she hath purified (or,
washed) thee, she hath united herself to thee, she hath supplied thee as a god, and thou art alive and
stablished among the gods."
V. The great goddess NUT saith, "I have endowed him with a soul, I have endowed him with a spirit, and
I have given him power in the body of his mother TEFNUT, I who was never brought forth. I have come,
and I have united myself to OSIRIS, the king, the lord of the two lands, MEN-MAAT-RA, whose word is
maat, the son of Ra, the lord of diadems, SETI MER-EN-PTAH, whose word is maat, with life, stability,
and power. He shall not die. I am NUT of the mighty heart, and I took up my being in the body of my
mother TEFNUT in my name of Nut; over my mother none hath
